Where and what oysters to eat: restaurants, retailers and producers in Dubai

Our very own UAE oysters from Dibba Bay

I’ve always eaten oysters, but my love affair started four years ago when I read best-selling author Mireille Guiliano’s book ‘Meet Paris Oyster’ which I fell for hook, line and sinker (excuse the pun), igniting a passion to seek out oysters in Dubai and on my travels.

What are these odd-looking creatures though? Oysters are bivalve molluscs that live in marine habitats around the world. They are typically flat or cupped. Oysters boast a ‘number’ that indicates the shell size – from 0 to 5 for cupped oysters – and from 000 to 6 for flat species. Just to confuse matters, the smaller the oyster, the higher the number! So the pricier oysters are labeled size 0, 1 and 2. The largest I have ever eaten are 2s. For cupped oysters, the designation ‘fine’ or ‘special’ indicates the amount of meat, with the latter meatier.

We have a staggering 400 plus species of oysters, but here’s a snapshot from around the world:

• Crassostrea gigas (Pacific cupped oyster) – the world’s most cultivated oyster.
• Ostrea edulis (European flat or Belon).
• Crassostrea virginicas (Atlantic oyster).
• Ostreola or Ostrea concaphila (Olympia oyster).
• Crassostrea silamea (Kumamoto).
• Saccostrea glomerata (Sydney rock oyster).
• Ostrea chilensis (Chilean oyster).
• Crassostrea ariakensis aka Sumo (Chinese oyster).

Here’s a little known, intriguing fun fact. The French are famous for farming oysters, but did you know that many are grown in Ireland, and only finished in their claires (basins) in France? The Irish should milk this fact more.

Most experts will say that the so-called ‘r-month rule’ in the northern hemisphere no longer matters, i.e it’s perfectly safe to eat raw oysters in a month with no ‘r’ in it – basically May, June, July and August – when the water is not that cold. The reverse applies for oysters from the southern hemisphere. I’ve only ever had food poisoning once from oysters in South Africa in December (their summer), so perhaps there is some truth in it, or it was just a dodgy oyster. But there are differing opinions. Anyhow, it’s September, so go on, enjoy 🙂

In most cases, oysters will be shucked for you (opened and the oyster flesh released from its shell with a knife). If you fancy giving it a go yourself, play this video here:

Purists will eat them raw, but you can also have these cooked with a variety of toppings, or even fried in tempura batter like I tasted in Japan. If raw, accompaniments are a-plenty – lemon, lime, mignonette (minced shallots, cracked pepper and red wine vinegar), a dash of Tabasco, a soy sauce dip or cocktail sauce, but not all combined pretty please. Freshly baked bread with lashings of salty butter make oysters a meal in themselves.

So here’s your guide on restaurants serving oysters in Dubai on their a la carte menus, as well as retailers, plus the many oysters you’ll find in Dubai with their tasting notes. 

Any I may have missed? What’s your favourite oyster?

RESTAURANTS SERVING OYSTERS IN DUBAI (in ascending order of price):

Oysters at Sean Connolly Dubai – Muirgen (Ireland), Tsarskaya and Argent (France)

Sean Connolly at Dubai Opera is one of the few ‘celeb chef’ helmed restaurants in Dubai, where the chef visits regularly. Sean believes in making oysters less elitist and more accessible, hence a compelling offer every Wednesday and Thursday between 8-9pm with unlimited size 3 oysters at AED5 each. I managed 18 in one sitting. Here’s what’s on the menu at the moment, but the producers change according to supply:

• Dibba Bay (UAE): AED25
• Loch Fyne (Scotland): AED30
• Bouzigues (France): AED30
• Tsarskaya (France): AED35
• Muirgen (Ireland): AED35
• Gillardeau (France): AED45

There’s also a delicious oyster fritter, spinach and oyster soup for AED75, as well as a shellfish platter which includes oysters.

The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill is an independently operated restaurant at the Doubletree JBR. The obscure and low-key entrance in the car park makes a welcome change from glitzy, revolving hotel doors and what’s even more inviting, is a lively brasserie, bordering on a gastro-pub. Given the name, oysters are a-plenty. From Sunday to Thursday between 6-8pm, feast on unlimited Fine de Claire oysters for AED10 a pop. At any other time, opt for:

• Fine de Claire (France): 6 for AED130 or 12 for AED235
• Dibba Bay (UAE): 6 for AED130 or 12 for AED235
• La Gorhou (France): 6 for AED215 or 12 for AED375
• La Camargue (France): 6 for AED230 or 12 for AED400
• Loch Fyne (Scotland): 6 for AED270 or 12 for AED440
• Tsarskaya (France): 6 for AED270 or 12 for AED450
• Morecambe Bay (England): 6 for AED270 or 12 for AED480
• Utah (France): 6 for AED295 or 12 for AED480
• Belon (France): 6 for AED295 or 12 for AED480
• Kelly Galway (Ireland): 6 for AED295 or 12 for AED480
• Daisy Bay (Canada): based on market price

Crab Market – oysters Rockefeller

Crab Market is a concept by chef Vladimir Mukhin of White Rabbit Moscow (World’s 50 Best fame) brought to Dubai, in Emirates Financial Towers, by Bulldozer restaurant group. Whilst crab is the predominant ingredient on the menu and chilled display, many other shellfish abound – oysters included. Here you can find:

• Dibba Bay (UAE): AED12
• Fine de Claire (France): AED15
• Belon (France): AED22
• Gillardeau (France): AED33
• Portuguese Rock (Portugal): AED33
• Tarbourieche (France): AED33

A couple of cooked oyster dishes are also on the menu:

• Oysters with parsley, garlic and butter: three for AED80
• Oysters Rockefeller with spinach and parmesan: three for AED95

Graze at La Ville City Walk is a simple licensed gastro-grill. The oysters here are Fine de Claire from France, which seems to be the most popular producer on Dubai menus. Size no 3s. AED20 per oyster or AED110 for half a dozen.

Boca, a homegrown Mediterranean tapas restaurant, bar and wine cellar dining room in DIFC serves local Dibba Bay oysters. A trio of oysters with different toppings for AED90, or a dozen No 3s for AED200.

Le Petit Belge – rock oysters

Le Petit Belge started off as a casual Belgian bistro in JLT (licensed), and now boasts an additional two locations in Business Bay and Motor City. Six rock oysters for AED92, or a dozen for AED174.

Bistro des Arts, a locally developed concept on Dubai Marina Mall’s promenade transports you back in time to an intimate quintessential Parisian bistro offering a genuine taste of simple and authentic French cuisine. The oysters are French, bien sur – Fine de Claire no 3s priced at AED96 for half a dozen.

STK is one restaurant I have not yet tried. An American steakhouse brand that has docked in Dubai at Rixos Premium JBR and the newly opened Address Downtown. Oysters are local Dibba Bay no 3s – six for AED99 and a dozen for AED198.

Seagrill boasts a completely new refreshing look having relocated to the other side of Fairmont Palm’s restaurant strip with views across the JBR skyline. The oysters here are also Fine de Claire – six for AED165, and a dozen for AED320. Also available as part of a seafood platter.

WHERE TO BUY OYSTERS IN DUBAI (mainstream supermarkets aside):

Online gourmet grocer Chez Charles: Gillardeau (France) no 2s: 24 for AED504.

Lafayette Gourmet at Dubai Mall: Local Dibba Bay oysters and Fine de Claire AED14-15 per piece. No delivery.

Online gourmet grocer Secrets Fine Food (the sibling to trade supplier Classic Fine Foods):

• Fine de Claire no 3s (France): 12 for AED132
• Fine de Claire no 4s (France): 24 for AED152
• Fine de Claire no 2s (France): 12 for AED175
• Kelly Gigas no 3s (Ireland): 12 for AED175
• Kelly Gigas no 2s (Ireland): 12 for AED184
• Tsarskaya no 3s (France): 12 for AED202
• Tsarskaya no 2s (France): 12 for AED238

TASTING NOTES OF OYSTERS AVAILABLE IN DUBAI (credit for some of these go to Maine who have tasted far more than me):

• Dibba Bay (Fujairah, UAE): our very own oyster farm. Subtle brine finish.
• Fine de Claire (Brittany, France): juicy soft texture with a short finish.
• La Gorhou (Brittany, France): as a wild oyster, the flavour is of the open sea.
• Belon (Brittany, France): wild, briny, creamy and fine.
• Bouzigues (Languedoc, France): salt water freshness with nutty notes.
• Tarbouriech (Languedoc, France): known as pink oysters – full and fleshy with a hazelnut taste and sweet-iodised flavour.
• Tsarskaya (Cancale, France): firm and powerful.
• Gillardeau (Marenne-Oleron, France): abundant flesh, modest salinity, near sweetness, nuttiness and strong after taste.
• La Camargue (Camargue, France): pure meaty flesh.
• Utah (Normandy, France): full firm flesh with salty hazelnut notes.
• Portuguese Rock: salt water freshness and briny with sweet notes.
• Morecambe Bay (Cumbria, England): briny, plump with a refreshing after taste.
• Loch Fyne (Loch Fyne, Scotland): smooth, sweet flavour with a pure finish.
• Muirgen (Ireland): firm flesh, sweet and meaty flavour.
• Kelly (Galway, Ireland): firm, chewy texture with a long finish.
• Daisy Bay (Prince Edward Island, Canada): clean flavour with a delightful sweet finish.

A bientôt.

FooDiva. x

I’ve eaten oysters for years, but my love affair started four years ago when I read best-selling author Mireille Guiliano’s book ‘Meet Paris Oyster’ which I fell for hook, line and sinker (excuse the pun), igniting a passion to seek out oysters in Dubai and on my travels. So here’s your guide (see link in profile) on restaurants serving oysters in Dubai on their a la carte menus, as well as retailers, plus the many oysters you’ll find in Dubai with their tasting notes ?. ?FUN FACT?: Did you know that many French oysters are grown in Ireland, and only finished in their claires (basins) in France? The Irish should milk this fact more ?. Any restaurants I may have missed? What’s your favourite oyster? ? #oysterdiva

A post shared by Award-winning food critic???? (@foodiva) on Aug 29, 2018 at 11:10pm PDT

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